World Cup 2023: Success-driven Netherlands exert pressure with three consecutive maidens against New Zealand

The Netherlands are playing their second ICC World Cup 2023 match, and they were off to a remarkable start with a brilliant display of bowling against New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. In a rare and impressive feat, the Dutch managed to bowl three consecutive maiden overs to start the innings.

The opening over was bowled by the talented Aryan Dutt, who took the new ball for the Netherlands. Dutt's off-spinners kept New Zealand opener Devon Conway firmly rooted to the crease in the first over. Following Dutt's exceptional maiden, Ryan Klein, in his debut World Cup appearance, matched the feat by bowling another maiden over to Will Young. Aryan Dutt then persisted with tight lines in the third over, leaving Conway struggling to find any scoring opportunities.

This brilliant bowling performance marked the first instance of three consecutive maiden overs in an ODI match in a decade. Interestingly, the last occurrence of such a feat also involved New Zealand when they played South Africa in Kimberly in 2013. The Kiwis, on that occasion, emerged victorious, eventually winning the match by 27 runs.

Despite the initial maidens, Devon Conway and Will Young quickly regained their composure, accelerating to reach the 50-run mark in just 7.3 overs after losing the toss. The Netherlands, coming off a disappointing loss to Pakistan, have a formidable challenge against New Zealand, who were riding high on confidence after a convincing win over England in their previous match.

Also Check: Most Runs in ODI World Cup 2023

In their first league game, New Zealand showcased their dominance over arch-rivals England, securing a commanding nine-wicket win. It was a match reminiscent of the 2019 World Cup final, where both teams looked for their maiden ODI World Cup triumph, with England ultimately emerging victorious.

The Netherlands showed promise in their first match against Pakistan, holding the upper hand for more than half of the game. However, Pakistan staged a remarkable comeback, snatching victory from the Dutch. Bas de Leede delivered an exceptional all-round performance, and Vikramjit Singh displayed excellent form, providing a ray of hope for their team.